BOSTON -The Knicks attacked the basket, ran the fastbreak with zeal and reached the century mark in points last night.

Every style the surging Knicks try is working to perfection. Even coach Jeff Van Gundy loved this were talking about it tonight. We want to see how long we can continue this streak and continue to recreate ourselves.”

Houston, 9-of-12 from the field, was bent last night on penetrating to the basket after the Knicks stood around 13 days ago vs. the Celtics and saw Boston shoot 41 free throws to the Knicks’ nine.

Finishing with four points during that Dec. 21 nightmare, Houston had his worst game as a Knick in that Boston massacre – the last time the Knicks have tasted defeat.

“I got to my spot and wanted to be aggressive,” said Houston, who got to the line for seven free-throw attempts, making six.

“If they were going to get up on me tight like they did, I was going to the basket. If they weren’t, I would use my shooting ability. It took a lot of the thinking out of the game for me tonight.”

The QuicKnicks penetrated like demons and went to the foul line 10 more times than Boston (30-20). Houston’s best moment came on a drive down the left side of the lane, on which he banked home a tough lefty runner to give the Knicks a 79-76 advantage with 9:08 remaining.

Houston’s forays opened it up for others during a fourth quarter in which the Celtics went 3:21 without scoring, and in which the Knicks’ lead rose from 87-83 with 5:51 left to 93-83 with 2:30 remaining.

During that span, Houston got into the lane and dished to Kurt Thomas for an easy dunk. Then came the clincher with 1:44 remaining, as Houston made a short drive into the paint, was doubled and kicked to Childs on the left elbow. Childs promptly sank the trey to jack the Knicks’ lead to 11 points, 96-85.

Childs, shooting just 39 percent, was unconscious last night, making all five of his field goals, including all three treys. With Glen Rice out with a plantar fasciaitis of the left foot, Childs is in the starting lineup, and last night he broke his previous season high by seven points.

Rice’s absence makes the Knicks more up tempo because Childs is a better fastbreak point-guard, and it gives more time to Erick Strickland, another good penetrator.

Childs made a rare highlight-reel play in the second quarter, spinning 360 degree in the lane and draining a floater. Otherwise, it was money from the perimeter for Childs, who has said often he must knock down those shots when teams double Latrell Sprewell and Houston.

“I haven’t shot the ball as well, and they get the scouting report,” Childs said about being left free. “They look at those percentages are low. I hope they keep doing that.”

And some hope the Knicks continue to run the ball. During one uncharacteristic spasm late in the third quarter, the Knicks made like the Showtime Lakers, converting fastbreak buckets on two straight possessions to open up a 73-67 lead. The entire Knick bench rose to its feet in delirium.